Does Popcorn Make You Fat

Popcorn is perhaps the most loved snack in the United States, especially when someone is watching a baseball game or enjoying a movie. Furthermore, this snack is easy to make and also quite addictive in nature. Once you dip your hand into a popcorn bowl, you can never stop. The estimate today on the consumption of popcorn is that nearly sixteen billion quarts of popcorn are consumed every year in the US. As this snack is eaten by so many people there is always a questions being asked -- does popcorn make you fat?

Corn is the primary crop of America and therefore, the popcorn increases in popularity every single year. Popcorn is considered to be a safe snack for most part, but there are some dietary concerns.

Corn is a wholesome grain and it is low in calorie but high in fiber. However, when you add ingredients, like butter, cheese or caramel, it is unhealthy. The calorie count increases vertically on the scale as you add these ingredients. Consuming too much flavored popcorn can cause a significant amount of weight gain. It can also cause obesity and make you fat. Oil and butter are fattening products. The healthiest way to have popcorn is when they are popped in the air.

Popcorn when popped in the air is a great source of nutrition. It has 1 gram of fiber in every cup. It has a very few B group vitamins, which are helpful in boosting energy. Popcorn also is a source of minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and Phosphor. All of these are required by the body on a daily basis.

There are different ratings for popcorn when it comes to the calorie and fat content. One cup of popcorn, popped in the air, contains 31calories and no fat. When popcorn is popped using oil, the fat becomes exponentially greater. If you are on a diet and watching your calories, then air popped popcorn is ideal. You can add a bit of salt and cayenne pepper to enhance the taste and flavor.

Popcorn at movies is the unhealthiest option. Medium sized popcorn contains anything between 500 to 1,200 calories. In commercial sense, popcorn is always sold with a mixture of oil and butter. It also contains saturated fat. Moreover, it is high in sodium content and can cause water retention.

The microwave version of popcorn contains trans fats and hydrogenated fats. Both of them are bad for health and increase LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. LDL cholesterol is the bad cholesterol. If you have to choose microwave popcorns, then choose the non-hydrogenated versions of it.

Popcorn made from corn kernels, which puff into a white fluffy snack when they are heated. Popcorn is manufactured by taking out whole kernels from the cob, and drying them. Once they are dry, the kernels are heated and made to pop. When the kernels are heated, they make a popping noise and that is why they are called popcorn. Popcorn can be made in a vessel directly above flame or in a microwave. Popcorns are sold in special microwavable bags that expand when heated up. They fill with air and the hot air causes the corn to pop inside the bag. The question here arises is whether temperature has an effect on the pop rate of popcorn. More..